I think it will be a battle between Carolina and Washington for the SE division, but both will make the playoffs comfortably.

I think Pittsburgh will drop off a bit, with Montreal taking the #1 seed again. New Jersey will start to show the effects of losing every good player they have (save for Brodeur) in free agency. The Rangers will actually start to resemble a decent team.

And the Flyers will set a record with eight players suspended during the first two months for boneheaded plays that cause injuries (or at least attempted injuries).

Theodore will struggle initially and get ripped mercilessly by everyone, to the point where he reconsiders the wisdom of ever wanting to come here. But then he'll settle in as a steady workhorse and Johnnie will continue to collect the splinters. Let's hope we don't loose too much precious ground while Jose's finding himself.

Ovie will get hurt. I hate to say it, but if he continues to play like he himself always has, it's (almost) inevitable. I am praying it doesn't turn into something chronic cause he's too stubborn to rest.

Olie will play 20 games max all year and pretend he's contributing and stick it out very painfully until April, when (as the Bolts are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs) he can retire with his dignity all in shreds.

Fehr will become a solid and reliable Kono Klone, and stake his eventual claim to the “A”.

Alzner will keep his head up and his eyes open and become an essential cog very quickly.

I agree that our wittle fuzzy wuzzy Le Lapin will dance and dangle and dazzle. With Gramp’s mentoring he’ll shine even more brightly than he has. In addition, he will learn how to say ‘Just happy to be here. Hope I can help the ball club. God willing.’ in English.

Oh, and our dear Tyler will continue to disappoint and annoy. Just like every year.

Everyone will be focused on Alzner, but Lespito will solidify a spot on the third pairing by mid-season.

Semin will have a rebound year and crack 40 goals.

Johnson will finally find some consistancy under Gabby and force a platoon with Theodore.

(No predictions of bad performances. Can't go there)

NHL:

Tampa Bay will be in the cellar again, thanks to outdated coaching, shaky goaltending (sorry Olie, but I also was thinking of Smith), and an extremely inexperienced defense (at least the 70-pt Caps teams had a few journeymen around and Witt for one season).

Buffalo and Edmonton will return to the playoffs.

The Rangers and Devils will miss the playoffs, and the Senators will be on the bubble.

1) They may suck, but TB should be exciting as hell as they play 8-6 games every night! Now the latest 'rumour' is they have inquired about Sundin! LOL2) Whats left of Melroses' mullet is gonna fall out when he sees his team 'defense'!

The sun will rise tomorrow and set later in the day, Ted will continue to invite people to his box until one day it will eventually explode, after a two game losing streak someone will say that Boudreau is overmatched in the NHL and recommend his firing and on a slow day, JP will put out another variation of 2 Girls, 1 Cup. I'm sorry, but that's all I've got.

- The price of beer at VC will go up. - Some @$$3h*le will bring election signs for one candidate or another to the game and hold them up through the whole game, blocking someone's view and starting a riot. - Someone will complain that the Spirit Squad girls aren't hot enough.

I hate to think of even the idea of Carla's prediction coming true, so I'm not going to say it. No jinxes!

Alzner will not be a Calder finalist, but will finish 4th in the voting. Stamkos will win as he will break the 90 point barrier as a rookie. Tampa will set a franchise high for goals scored, but still have a losing record as they will set an NHL record for most goals allowed in a season.

My prediction: I finally get enough people to form a team with in NHL 09 by Christmas. We then get rolled game in and game out, struggling to get out of last place in the 14th division. EA Sports gives us each 5 dollars to disband. I blow it all on gas.

You're being very generous with giving the Isles the 15th spot in the East... they may find a way to finish 16th or lower in a 15 team conference. They have a shot to be historically (as in less than 15 wins) bad...